Supercapacitors: problems and prospects of development

The review describes the design of supercapacitors and demonstrates their advantages over batteries and their main drawback: fast self-discharge. Various types of highly dispersed carbon materials for electrodes, functional groups on their surface, porous structure and hydrophilic&amp;ndasg;hydrophobic properties are considered. Data on the self-discharge of supercapacitors are discussed. Self-discharge investigation methods, mechanisms and mathematical modelling are analyzed and the effect of surface functional groups on this process is demonstrated. The methods for minimizing the self-discharge are described, in particular, using additives to the electrolyte, design of solid-state supercapacitors and supercapacitors with ion exchange membranes, the use of electrolytes free from impurities and chemical modification of electrodes. The developed new-generation supercapacitors with enhanced characteristics are mentioned. Electrodes based on conductive polymers are considered, and the key characteristics of supercapacitors manufactured by various companies are given.<br> The bibliography includes 160 references.